Many homes have been completely submerged and authorities are only beginning to assess the impact of the floods.

Toilet facilities, cemeteries and refuse dumps have all been flooded, raising serious concerns about the outbreak of disease. Essential services like water and electricity, are no longer reaching the affected areas.

The Volta River Authority says, it warned residents ahead of the controlled spillage of excess water from the Akosombo and Kpong hydro-electric dams. The power company also carried out simulation exercises with some communities, about how to deal with a potential disaster, but that does not seem to have lessened the impact of the floods.

Ghana’s navy has been assisting with rescue efforts and has so far rescued more than 8,000 people.